Linen is one of the easiest fabrics to live with, provided you resist the urge to treat it like heavy cotton. Stone-washed linen has already been softened at the mill, so the job at home is simply to keep it that way. A little care and a steady routine will see a set through years of washing.
Start with the wash temperature
Machine wash linen at 40 degrees on a normal cycle with a gentle liquid detergent. Hotter water is not needed and will only make the fibres tired. Use less detergent than you think, because linen holds soap and a build-up is what leaves sheets feeling stiff rather than soft.
Skip fabric softener and bleach. Softener coats the fibre and stops it breathing. If you want a little extra softness, add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse instead. It costs pennies and does the job without leaving a residue behind.
Sort the load
Wash linen with other linen or with cotton of a similar colour. Zips, hooks and heavy denim can catch the weave, so keep them in a separate load. A fuller drum washes better than a half-empty one, but do not cram it tight, because linen needs room to move in the water.
Turn duvet covers inside out before washing and fasten the coconut shell buttons so the loops do not snag on other pieces. Wash pillowcases and sheets separately from towels, which shed more lint and leave it behind on the bedding.
Drying
Line drying is the kindest option and gives linen its gentle rumple. If you use a tumble dryer, choose a low setting and take the bedding out while it is still slightly damp. High heat is what causes unnecessary shrinkage and creasing, so the low setting is worth the extra time.
What to avoid
Linen does not need ironing. If you prefer a neater finish, press it while it is damp or use a light steam. A hot iron on dry linen can flatten the weave and leave shine marks that will not wash out. Skip starch for the same reason.
How often to wash
Sheets and pillowcases are usually washed once a week or once a fortnight. Duvet covers can go a little longer. Linen softens with every wash, so there is no need to be precious about it. Fresh bedding is one of the small pleasures of a well-kept bed.
Stains and spills
Deal with a spill while it is fresh. Blot it, rinse it in cool water and wash as usual. Do not rub hard, which can work the mark deeper into the weave, and do not reach for a hot wash before you have tried a cool one.
- Wash at 40 degrees with a gentle liquid detergent.
- Use no fabric softener and no bleach.
- Line dry, or tumble dry low until just damp.
- Skip the iron; a light steam is enough.
- Wash similar colours together and never overfill the drum.
Store spare linen folded in a dry, breathable place rather than a plastic bag, so it can breathe between uses. Treated this way, a Hush linen duvet cover should stay soft and strong for many years. It will soften further with every wash, which is exactly what linen is meant to do.
